[Federal Register: July 18, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 137)]
[Notices]
[Page 39467-39468]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jy07-116]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Docket No. WTO/DS-357]
WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding United States--
Subsidies and Other Domestic Support for Corn and Other Agricultural
Products
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative
(``USTR'') is providing notice that on June 7, 2007, Canada requested
the establishment of a dispute settlement panel under the Marrakesh
Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement'')
regarding U.S. domestic support measures for corn and other
agricultural products. That request may be found at: http://www.wto.org
contained in a document designated as WT/DS357/11. USTR invites written
comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.
DATES: Although USTR will accept any comments received during the
course of the consultations, comments should be submitted on or before
August 17, 2007 to be assured of timely consideration by USTR.
[[Page 39468]]
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted (i) electronically, to:
FR0705@ustr.eop.gov, with ``Agricultural Subsidies (Canada) (DS357)''
in the subject line, or (ii) by fax, to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-
3640. For documents sent by fax, USTR requests that the submitter
provide a confirmation copy to the electronic mail address listed
above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Yocis, Assistant General
Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th
Street, NW., Washington, DC, (202) 395-6150.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 127(b) of the Uruguay Round
Agreements Act (URAA) (19 U.S.C. 3537(b)(1)) requires that notice and
opportunity for comment be provided after the United States submits or
receives a request for the establishment of a WTO dispute settlement
panel. Consistent with this obligation, USTR is providing notice that
the establishment of a dispute settlement panel has been requested
pursuant to the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the
Settlement of Disputes (``DSU''). If such a panel is established
pursuant to the DSU, such panel, which would hold its meetings in
Geneva, Switzerland, would be expected to issue a report on its
findings and recommendations within six to nine months after it is
established.
Major Issues Raised by Canada
In its request for the establishment of a panel, Canada alleges
that the United States has provided support to domestic agricultural
producers in excess of U.S. commitments with respect to the Aggregate
Measurement of Support (``AMS'') as described in Article 6.2 of the WTO
Agreement on Agriculture and the U.S. WTO schedule of commitments.
According to Canada, the United States has provided domestic support in
excess of its AMS commitments in each of the years 1999, 2000, 2001,
2002, 2004, and 2005, in breach of Article 3.2 of the WTO Agreement on
Agriculture. In addition, Canada alleges that U.S. export credit
guarantees under the GSM-102 program in respect of agricultural
products not included in the U.S. WTO schedule of agricultural export
subsidy commitments are export subsidies prohibited under Articles
3.1(a) and 3.2 of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing
Measures and provided in violation of Articles 8 and 10.1 of the WTO
Agreement on Agriculture.
Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning the issues raised in the dispute. Comments should be
submitted (i) electronically, to: FR0705@ustr.eop.gov, with
``Agricultural Subsidies (Canada) (DS357)'' in the subject line, or
(ii) by fax, to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-3640. For documents sent by
fax, USTR requests that the submitter provide a confirmation copy to
the electronic mail address listed above.
USTR encourages the submission of documents in Adobe PDF format as
attachments to an electronic mail. Interested persons who make
submissions by electronic mail should not provide separate cover
letters; information that might appear in a cover letter should be
included in the submission itself. Similarly, to the extent possible,
any attachments to the submission should be included in the same file
as the submission itself, and not as separate files.
Comments must be in English. A person requesting that information
contained in a comment submitted by that person be treated as
confidential business information must certify that such information is
business confidential and would not customarily be released to the
public by the submitter. Confidential business information must be
clearly designated as such and the submission must be marked ``Business
Confidential'' at the top and bottom of the cover page and each
succeeding page.
Information or advice contained in a comment submitted, other than
business confidential information, may be determined by USTR to be
confidential in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of the Trade Act of
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2155(g)(2)). If the submitter believes that information
or advice may qualify as such, the submitter
(1) Must clearly so designate the information or advice;
(2) Must clearly mark the material as Submitted in Confidence at
the top and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page; and
(3) Is encouraged to provide a non-confidential summary of the
information or advice.
Pursuant to section 127(e) of the URAA (19 U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR
will maintain a file on this dispute settlement proceeding, accessible
to the public, in the USTR Reading Room, which is located at 1724 F
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508. The public file will include non-
confidential comments received by USTR from the public with respect to
the dispute; if a dispute settlement panel is convened or in the event
of an appeal from such a panel, the U.S. submissions, the submissions,
or non-confidential summaries of submissions, received from other
participants in the dispute; the report of the panel; and, if
applicable, the report of the Appellate Body. An appointment to review
the public file (Docket WTO/DS-357, Canada Corn-AMS Dispute) may be
made by calling the USTR Reading Room at (202) 395-6186. The USTR
Reading Room is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to
4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Daniel Brinza,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Monitoring and
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. E7-13941 Filed 7-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W7-P